Can you help me become more well read?

[Battlefront]

I love being lost in a book, but I admit most of what I read probably comes within the category trashy novels.

I consider myself to be reasonably bright but my formal education was all around science and maths, I seem to have missed the bit that should have taught me to enjoy quality literature. Whenever I try a "classic" I really struggle and TBH rarely get to the end.

Can you recommend a handful of entry level classics?

I'd also love a readable history book or series of books if anyone has a recommendation.

Thank you

[reallyyummymummy]

I find John Steinbeck really readable and his books are poignant. At school I read Of Mice and Men which I read again as an adult, just to remind myself why i liked him. It is quite short, digestible and a good starting point for The Grapes of Wrath (which is still readable but much longer).

I love Charles Dickens too. He is almost like a comic in the way he exaggerates every character in his novels. I started with Oliver Twist, which is really easy, and then did Great Expectations. I have now read almost everything by him except for a couple of relatively unknown books.

[Battlefront]

Thank you

I went to the library yesterday and have now read the first two chapters of Where Angels Fear to Tread - EM Forster. I chose it because it was thin, but I'm enjoying it so far, although I had to re-read a few pages to get to grips with who's who and how they're all related!

After that I will work through all your suggestions

[funchum8am]

keep us posted! I haven't read where angels fear to tread but will Kindle it now and try to keep up with you (hope that is ok!)